Intelligence: man vs. cow

April 19, 2011

To the editor:

The April 12 issue of the Daily American carried a story about cows written by Bill Croushore. In the article he said, “Cows are bred for production, not intelligence.” He also said, “They aren’t very smart.” He, then, goes on to tell how you must trick the cow to go into the chute where she thinks there is a chance to get away. Her head gets caught and she can’t get free. Then, the person who put her there, has his or her way with her – from one end to the other. Then, when she is set free, there’s a good chance, later, she will fall for the same trick again. Mr. Croushore stated that “an intelligent creature would never fall for such a trick.” However, I can relate this to the other side of the story – the man or woman who tricked the cow. Dumb or Dumber?

Professional politicians use similar tactics each election. They tell us what we want to hear. For example: “We are going to finish Route 219” or, “We will not raise taxes,” or “We will start gambling in Pennsylvania so seniors don’t have to pay property taxes,” and on and on and on. Unfortunately, too many people believe what they hear.

After the politicians are elected and you have your head in the gate, what is the first thing that happens? You feel their hands going into your pocket! Then, they want to pass rules to control your life. Then, they have to hire people to enforce the rules, build buildings and parking garages for the employees and on and on.

Cows might not be very smart but what we get from them benefits all. What we get from the politicians puts us in chains. Then, like those dumb cows that walk down that chute and put their heads in the gate, we, who are supposed to be smart and educated, go to the polls and vote for the same people again. And, that’s why we have been building 219 for the last 40 years.